As San Diegans anxiously await the full tally of votes from the November election, preliminary results have the incumbents of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors relishing an early advantage, with the potential continuation of Democratic control hanging in the balance. In the balanced board comprising three Democrats, Nora Vargas, Monica Montgomery Steppe, Terra Lawson-Remer, and two Republicans, Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond, the incumbents' leads signal stability in local governance. Yet, noteworthy is Lawson-Remer's District 3 race, where she faces the Republican challenger Kevin Faulconer, a former mayor of San Diego, in what could be the determining contest for the board’s political complexion, according to the live election updates reported by CBS8.
Nora Vargas, the chairwoman of the board and the first Hispanic woman to serve appears to have secured a comfortable lead in District 1 with 61.62% of the vote over her opponent, Alejandro Galicia, who has managed to collect 38.38%, despite her arguments that "San Diego County needs bold, effective leadership" and that her first-term accomplishments—like declaring a state of emergency in the Tijuana River Valley—merely lay the foundation for more work on housing, behavioral health, environmental justice, and economic prosperity, according to CBS8. Over on the East County side, District 2's Joel Anderson, who's been "laser focused on improving the quality of life for his constituents" throughout his first term, including shutting down illegal drug operations and addressing the homeless crisis, seems to have the upper hand against Gina Jacobs, holding 61.42% of the early vote tally as she remains behind at 38.58%, illustrating that local engagement might weigh more heavily than the coastal elitism that casts long shadows over the inland valleys.
Terra Lawson-Remer's initiative to fight the homeless crisis with "innovative thinking to clean-up streets, clear encampments, and get people the help they need and into supportive housing" is playing out in real time, as she holds a 55.72% lead over Kevin Faulconer's 44.28% for District 3, positioning her at the forefront for a second term, as the CBS8 reported.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Lawson-Remer made it clear that regardless of the race's current standings, her focus remains on addressing housing costs, protecting beaches and coastlines, and confronting homelessness—a quote that was mirrored in her statement cited by the San Diego Union-Tribune. While her opponent Faulconer did not respond to requests for comment, the ongoing ballot count will dictate whether her initiatives will continue to shape the county's approach to these pressing issues. Meanwhile, Vargas expressed gratitude and excitement for District 1's voters' trust in her, emphasizing her commitment to fostering economic prosperity and tackling environmental challenges, particularly in the Tijuana River Valley.
